I too have been hearing comsi-comsa revues regarding Versailles for Cuban food. There is always La Carreta across the street from Versailles, which is also is 24 hours and is owned by the same fellow who owns Versailles.

Regarding other Cuban food eateries, I've had great luck from the Latin American chain as well as anything from Sergio's which is open late on Friday & Saturday.

Will have to research Broward county. But its nothing a search in the Florida section of www.ChowHound.com can't fix. Enter the site, click on the South, and then click Florida. Thanks S.M. Kopelman, Tikilicious' other half.

Im sort of surprised no one saw Steve's great article on the Hukilau website! In the section called "Rare Eats"! He and I spent months going to all these places, and he spent a really long time writing up this great review on where all the Hukilau folks can go eat. It was torturous research I tellz ya, going from restaurant to restaurant, all that delicious food.... we really SUFFERED for all of YOU! To know where to EAT! What we went through for all of you, OH MY TIKI! (was it ever good! LOL!)
Here is a link for those who didnt know where to find it. Enjoy! I know we REALLY enjoyed doin the research, and my Daddy-O really enjoyed writing it up for our wonderful guests to South Fla.

Either go to www.thehukilau.com and then click on "LINKS", and click on "RARE EATS", Or just go here:

Steve is what is known as a "chowhounder", or a "foodie". He is obsessed with really GREAT food. No chains... just those wonderful mom n' pop shops and holes in the walls, and great great delicious places that have been around for ages. He writes for the South Florida New Times. EAT 'ER UP!

On 2005-06-25 11:20, I dream of tiki wrote:I too have been hearing comsi-comsa revues regarding Versailles for Cuban food. There is always La Carreta across the street from Versailles, which is also is 24 hours and is owned by the same fellow who owns Versailles.

Regarding other Cuban food eateries, I've had great luck from the Latin American chain as well as anything from Sergio's which is open late on Friday & Saturday.

Will have to research Broward county. But its nothing a search in the Florida section of www.ChowHound.com can't fix. Enter the site, click on the South, and then click Florida. Thanks S.M. Kopelman, Tikilicious' other half.

LOL Steve thanks YOU, Miss Liz! We hope to dine out with you again soon!

TIKIFISH!!!!!
There's a place to get poutine at Hukilau!!!!
(from Steve's page)
Dairy Belle: The towns just south of Ft. Lauderdale are popular with French Canadian tourists, which means there are a lot of hairy old men in Speedos and almost as many places to get authentic Quebecois food. Take this '60s-style hot dog and soft ice-cream stand. They've got a press-on menu board. They've got picnic tables under an awning. They've got poutine and guedilles, which are gravy fries with cheese curds and gloppy mayo-and-lettuce sandwiches on hot dog buns, respectively, and a steady stream of sunburned, homesick people speaking French. [118 N. Federal Hwy. (US1), Dania, a few minutes south of the airport, heading away from Ft. Lauderdale.]

On 2005-06-25 15:20, purple jade wrote:TIKIFISH!!!!!
There's a place to get poutine at Hukilau!!!!
(from Steve's page)
Dairy Belle: The towns just south of Ft. Lauderdale are popular with French Canadian tourists, which means there are a lot of hairy old men in Speedos and almost as many places to get authentic Quebecois food. Take this '60s-style hot dog and soft ice-cream stand. They've got a press-on menu board. They've got picnic tables under an awning. They've got poutine and guedilles, which are gravy fries with cheese curds and gloppy mayo-and-lettuce sandwiches on hot dog buns, respectively, and a steady stream of sunburned, homesick people speaking French. [118 N. Federal Hwy. (US1), Dania, a few minutes south of the airport, heading away from Ft. Lauderdale.]

YEAH. Their poutine is SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD. Steve introduced it to me, actually. Our apartment is about 10 or 15 minutes away, and back when we were still dating and not yet living together, he tried to romance me by taking me to The Dairy Belle. My dear, it WORKED. That poutine was to DIE FOR. I was practically licking the gravy out of the little paper boat it came in. I forced him to move in shortly thereafter.

I grew up in New Orleans, by the way! Say hi to all of my old friends for me!

But in Steve's reply he says the Mai Kai's food is mediocre-to-bad! Hmmm. I don't agree.

I find Chowhound a good resource once in a while but sometimes people are a bit too critical, especially when reviewing old places. Often the food is of a different style than nouveau cuisine so it's not going to be great, but you have to go in with an open attitude and lower expectations. For example I would never compare Trader Vic's or the Mai Kai's food (which IMO ranges from fair to very good) to my favorite moderately-priced Bay Area restaurants like Fringale or Ideale or Bay Wolf. It's just not a fair comparison.

Anyone venturing down to Miami for Cuban food, Versailles is no longer 24 hours. Not sure if this is off-season hours but they close at 2:30 AM on Sunday thru Thrus. Open till 3:30 AM on Fridays & Saturdays.

La Carreta across the street (SW 8 St, that is) is open until 3 AM Sundays thru Thursdays & is open 24 hours on Fridays & Saturdays.

I don't know about other folks, but night owls like me need those open late places.

On 2005-09-14 13:31, I dream of tiki wrote:Anyone venturing down to Miami for Cuban food, Versailles is no longer 24 hours. Not sure if this is off-season hours but they close at 2:30 AM on Sunday thru Thrus. Open till 3:30 AM on Fridays & Saturdays.

La Carreta across the street (SW 8 St, that is) is open until 3 AM Sundays thru Thursdays & is open 24 hours on Fridays & Saturdays.

I don't know about other folks, but night owls like me need those open late places.

Liz, isn't there a La Carreta in Broward? I know there used to be one in Pembroke Pines near the corner of University Drive and Hollywood/Pines Blvd.

There are so many good cuban places in Broward, I don't think its necessary to drive all the way down to SW 8th Street in Miami -- unless people wanted to do some sight-seeing.

By the way, for those looking for the French Canadian places to eat, I know there used to be several places along the boardwalk on Hollywood Beach. Are those still there?

Joe, you are definitely right about La Carretta being a chain and probably having an existing location MUCH closer. I was just putting the word out in case anyone is making the trek to the banana republic that is Miami.

Do we happen to have any names of Cuban & other fun Latin eats joints that locals would like to name & comment on? My knowledge is mostly Miami.